Excerpt from That Anvil of Our Souls by David Poyer, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

-- This wedge assembly raises or lowers the turret. In heavy seas it would be lowered, to rest on the bronze base ring.

-- I see that. But if, when jacked up on the spindle, it should be struck by a heavy shot, could it not jam? I should look into the centros and clearances on these cycloidal gears.

They discussed mating and generating surfaces, pitch angle and backlash. The arrangement seemed unimpeachable, and at last Theo said, -- It is brilliant in its conception and extremely interesting in its arrangements.

-- It merely derives from the circumstances.

-- How do you mean, sir, only derives? The whole concept of your craft seems to me quite novel and original.

Ericsson rubbed his eyes. The glare was making Theo's own water; he could not imagine how the man endured it. The inventor said through gritted teeth, -- Is this world composed only of imbeciles? The Merrimack has progressed so far, no structure of large dimensions can be completed in time to meet her. On the other hand, the heavy armor all observers report means only the largest guns will be of any use against her. The waters of the Southern rivers are shallow. They are also narrow, making it difficult to return fire from along the banks by maneuvering to present a broadside. We are thus driven to a small craft mounting heavy guns, of shallow draft, with a rotating turret. It is all so obvious I only had to explain it to the Navy board three times.

Theo did not like being called dolt and imbecile, but restrained his anger. The man was under terrific strain. -- As I understand it, you have only ninety days to produce this marvel, along with hull, driving machinery, internal arrangements. In a navy yard this would scarcely suffice to begin the planning. But you have promised the vessel in that time.

-- Good, you know of the time limitation in the contract. Are you aware we also had to post bond that it will be invulnerable to enemy shot? We will not be paid in full until it passes that test. If it does not, all monies advanced for construction must be refunded within thirty days.

Theo thought of the men he'd met at Eaker's. He wondered at their daring and envied their ability to wager such vast sums. Either they were selfless patriots, or immense profits were in the offing. -- That is a shameful reservation.

-- I should not have signed it had we not already ordered the materials. Well, my battery will do all they require. I personally feel it will render nugatory the present superiority of England and France over this country. But speed is of the essence. I am dividing the work among three leading establishments. The Novelty Ironworks, on the far side of Manhattan, is tooling up for the turret and associated machinery; they have the only steam-powered presses capable of forming heavy plate to a circular section. Rowland laid the hull-keel at Continental today. Unfortunately I had no time to attend. And Mister Delamater is building the engines, also of my design.

-- The chief engineer has high regard for all these companies, especially Novelty. He worked there early in his career.

-- Then he may not be as pedestrian as I have assumed.

-- Mister Isherwood is not a pedestrian man, sir. Though he is no universal genius like yourself.

He'd heard the old inventor was not insusceptible to flattery. He regarded it not as an emollient but as his due. But Ericsson still sounded suspicious. -- Yet he's trying to push the Bureau's design. So far my supporters have managed to hold out for the genuine article, the only truly invulnerable floating battery.

Theo remembered his meeting with some of those "supporters" at Eaker's. Somehow Ericsson had managed to engineer not only machines, but a political-industrial lobby of considerable influence. -- It is a most ingenious ship.

From That Anvil of Our Souls by David Poyer. Copyright © 2005 by David Poyer. All rights reserved.